The State Council of China approved the construction of units 1 and 2 on July 31, 2023. The first concrete for unit 1 was poured on July 28, 2024. Upon completion, each of the four Hualong One units is expected to produce over 10 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, reducing standard coal consumption by 3.12 million tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions by 8.16 million tonnes, according to China Huaneng.
The Shidaowan site also hosts the first of two demonstration Guohe One (CAP1400) reactors, which was connected to the grid in November 2023. The CAP1400, an advanced version of the CAP1000 pressurized water reactor, was developed with technical consultation from a U.S.-based company and is designed for widespread use in China and potential export.
Additionally, the Shidaowan site is home to the High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor-Pebble-bed Module (HTR-PM), which entered commercial operation in December 2023. The HTR-PM consists of two small reactors powering a single 210 MWe turbine. Ownership is shared among China Huaneng (47.5%), China National Nuclear Corporation’s subsidiary China Nuclear Engineering Corporation (32.5%), and Tsinghua University’s Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology (20%), which leads research and development.
China Huaneng announced: “With the start of construction of the Shidaowan unit 2 Hualong One, the Phase I expansion project of Huaneng Shidao Bay Nuclear Power entered the full construction stage, and the construction of China’s first comprehensive nuclear power base integrating third-generation and fourth-generation nuclear power technologies was further accelerated.”
The development of the Shidaowan nuclear power plant represents a significant step in expanding clean energy infrastructure in Shandong Province. The combination of Hualong One, Guohe One, and HTR-PM technologies at the site positions it as a key facility for advancing nuclear energy innovation, supporting energy needs, and contributing to environmental sustainability through reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
